davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-07
The Buoyancy or Reindeer skin

A Norwegian engineer. Herr w. C.
Moeller, has made some important dis
coveries as to the buoyancy of reindeer
hair aud skin. He has found that a
reindeer skin weighing IL kilogrammes
rolled up and with the hair outward,
will support for ten days the same
weight as an ordinary cork life-belt
Moreover. the reindeer skin has the ad-
vantage of warming person, if formed
in the shape of life-belt and worn
around the waist. He has also con-
structed collapsing boats, sledges for
rescuing people from drowning in the
ice, ETC., from reindeer skin, and life
belts filed with reindeer hair, equal to
those of cork. Herr Moeller further
finds that suit made from reindeer
hair, weighing only one-haH kifo-
gramme, will save man from drown
ing. even if it has been in the water for
some time. 1t can be made in any
thickness and is warmer than other
materials. He is confidant that suits
made from reindeer hair will in time
supersede those made from oilskin.
The life-saving establishment at Got
henburg has already procured several of
these articles. London NeUs.
Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21
A Feature Of Earthquakes.

It's remarkable but invariable feature
of mild earthquake shocks that they are
felt by some persons and not By others.
in the same situation. This is true Of
persons who are on the same floor Of the
Same building. And it is sometimes the
case that persons in the top Of high
building havele tho shaking pass un.s
noticed, while persons in the lower
stories Of the same building have rushed
out of their rooms in terror. It would
be interesting to know whether some
persons are constitutionally more sensi-
tive to earthquakes than Others, and
whether quick observation Of seismic
disturbance is matter Of the intelli-
gence or merely of the nervesNe0
Ha0en Neaos.
Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21

=
Along the east strange glories burn,
And kindling lights leap high and higher,
AS morning from the azure urn
5 Pours forth her golden fire,
From rush and reed, from bush and brake,
Float countless jeweled gossamers
That glance and dazzle as they shake
In every breeze that stirs-
A bird, upspringing from the grain,
Flutes loud and clear his raptured note
That mingles with as blithe strain
As e'er thrilled human throat.
Amid the tasselled ranks Of corn
She stands breast high; her arms are bare;
And round her warm, brown neck the morn
Cleans on her lustrous hair.
The sickle flashes in her hand;
The dew laves both her naked feet;
She reaps and sings, and through the land
She sends her carols sweet.
The wind breathes softly on her brow;
To touch her lips fall blossoms seek;
And as the stricken columns bow,
They kiss her glowing cheek
q happy maiden IN her breast
Guile hath no place; her virgin sleep
Vain thoughts meier trouble; she IS blest;
She hath no tears to weep.
She knows nor longs for prouder things;
Her simple tasks are all her care;
She lives and loves, and reaps and sings
And makes the world more fair.
james B. Kenyon.
Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21
Earth Waves.

A capital way to discover the passag
of earth waves is by means Of the oilin
a kerosene lamp. # the lamp be Of glass
and half filled with kerosene oil, when
the shocks come ripples will be seen to
advance regularly along tho surface Of
the oil. These are not ripp.es like those
made by jar Of building, etc. They
run across the oil steadily, not tremu-
lousy and follow one another with reg
ularity. Such is the reporters expert
ence. The test was made several times.
The Oil being at the level Of the eye its
motion is easily seen. The shocks here
came from the west, perhaps a little
north Of west, as this oily tell tale indi-
Gated. Raleigh on o. NeDs. -.
Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21

Sad twilight trails her heavy clouds
Into the night. One sullen zone
OF mist. in nearer circling shrouds
Sweeps cut tbs hills our love has known.
Cold blasts 60 sobbing overhead,
When bark the west winds herald crios.
And By his sweet persuasion led,
Behold one far faint sparkle sped
Thro' rifted mists. ! keep glad eyes,
Dream happy things Above are spread
Blue skiesl
Life eager heart of mine is storm;
Thou canst not part the lowering years.
Closer and deeper phantoms form,
Thy near horizon wells In tears.
The world drifts from thy yearning sight,
But harkl what free wind hither flies.
Singing Of strange unseen delights
A star shines in the death-wrack's flight.
Dream thou Of morn and Paradise;
Over thy grave shall watch tonight
II Blue skies
Ellen n Butler
Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21
THE TURNING POINT.

A thick carpet had lately been put
down in the dining room at the squire's
residence, which was found to prevent
the door from opening and shutting
easily, SO Wedge, the village carpenter,
was sent for to ease;it.
+ AT six o'clock, while he was at work,
carriage wheels were distinctiyely heard,
and the squire's lady, with her children
came down into the hall ready to vel
come home Mr.. Cary, who had been that
day to town.
Wedge, who was working inside the
dining room, listened with establishment
as he heard the shout the children gave
when Their father stepped out of the
carriage. Hesaw also, through the door
crack, that the two eldest had caught
hold of his hands, while the young ones
were clinging like littlebarnacles.to his
coat tails; all dragging him along as il,
once having got him into their net, they
meant, spider-like, to bind him hand and
foot and deyour him, as that interesting
insect would great blue-bottle, at
their leisure.
That the squire's return should cause
such delight was puzzler for our worthy
friend; for had he not with his own eyes
seenthis gentleman go off at half-past nine
in the morning, no one could have per-
suaded him otherwise than that he must
have been away month, to put it at
the lowest figure
He saw, moreover, that the squire was
holding tightly in his hand little par
Gel, which, shaking off the children by a
number Of little lodges of which loving
fathers only know the secret, he quickly
united, for all the world as if he were a
boy Of five years old land not q great
man of fourteen stone weight, who
could not wait a moment for anything.
In a shorter time than we take to
write it he pulled out the contents and
gave them to his wife, with three distinct
kisses.
Wedge could swear there were three,
for he counted them, and wondered how
many more there were to come.
This was evidently very beautiful
present, for the children. as well as Mrs.
Cary, expressed their admiration in thu
iiveliest manner, and all seemed, if thai
werc possible, more pleased and happy
than before. u,
Soon the merry party went upstairs
the echo Of their voices died away, and
wedge was left to finish his work on TIN
door, while his heart and conscicnc,
began their work on hmm.
IL, too, had home and wife ans
Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21
Not a Partisan.

sTsn't he beautifula' said the wife Of
the politician, as she handled her baby
boy, who smiled and kicked every time.
she threw him up.
The is" answered the proud father as
he watched the play Of the little feet,
''but Pm afaid he will never be good
party man.
.sWhy nota''
"Because he's kicker"
It is these terrible things that cast .
gloom over the happiest families. -Bos-A
ton Courier.
Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21


them half NOR even quarter 90 much 4,
when Wedge came home, she could have
told him all about them--for, ten to one,
he could have set things right. But he
had always pooh-poohcd when she ven
tured to begin the subject, SO that She
had left off looking for help where there
was none to be got. It seemed to Wedge
that if he had paid down hard cash for
clothing, feeding and schooling the fam
ily he had done his share towards their
bringing up. Such being the state of
things, you may well imagine how sur
prised was Mrs. Wedge when she heard
a cheerful voice cry out:
ssWhere are you, Marya'
But greater still was her astonishment
when, on going to the door, her husband
presented her with the snow-drops. de-
claring as he put them in her hands, that
beautiful as they were, he thought the
rosebud on her arm beat them out and
OUT
Wedge had done many handy bit Of
work with those tools on his back, but
he did neater job now with those snow
drops than ever he had done with all of
them put together, for he, so to speak,
sawed Mary's heart right in two, and got
to the very inside, and planned down no
end Of knots and rough places, and
French polished her off as if she was
some Choice piece of cabinet work to be
sold for nobody knows what.
That day was the beginning Of brighter
times; Mary's heart having been, as we
before said, sawed right open, never
closed up again. by reason of her hus-
bands continually putting in one little
thing and another on purpose to keep it
open; and warm streams of affection
came gushing out that nobody knew
were ever there at all, they were hidden
down SO deep.
And as to Wedge, he never knew be-
fore how many pretty little speeches he
could make. Withoutsany notice before
hand whatever they seemed to come
from somewhere inside, all ready made,
packed and directed, ready to be de-
livered with care, this side up to his
wife, while the contents of these said
parcels, Or sentence, generally brought
smile on Mrs. Wedges face, and made
her as lively as cricket for some time
to come.
Andif this state Of things brought
happier days to Mary, Will was no less
benefited by them. Not only did his
wife return his love with interest, but it
prompted her to do many loving deeds,
the fruits of affection, which can make
the humblest home little paradise.
Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21
HUMOROUS.

Weighs that are dark The coal
dealers
The telephone operator has perpetual
boiler day.
A sentimental exercise Women's eyes
swimming in tears.
Window shutters are put up as orna-
mems. They are only blinds.
The best way to keep q young lady's
affections is not to return them.
So far as we know, Jonah was made
the first secretary Of tho interior.
There is man Of such violent temper
that he delights in beating carpets and
Gaming chairs.
"You are trying to make game Of
me, !" said the buzzard to the sportsman
who fred at it.
Prisoner (to warder who is giving him
his rations) tsWoti eat that? Not me!
I'll leave the Jail first
IA collector Of curiosities wants to get
the original brush with which the signs
Of the times were painted.
s.D.d the audience strike you favor
ablya" Orator t'Not very; ! had my
best suit on, and the rotten eggs don't
wash of easily"
The first herring caught each year off
the coast Of Holland belongs to the
King, as the first English sturgeon be-
longs to Queen Victoria.
If man has his hair cropped close he
is said to give himself the air Of prize
fighter Ii he wears his hair long he is
said to be crank This is tho long and
short Of it.
Baseball Captain You say that you
can catch? Tramp: Yis, sorr. B. 3.
Capt: You don't look like it. What
kind Of catcher are youa Tramp:
Ratcatcher, yer homer.
ut looks like the scene of great bat
tie, remarked traveller, viewing the
work Of recent cyclone in the West.
3'Yon're right, " SAID the native solcmnly,
the place was tuck by Storm
Merritt -sT see you have new ser
want girl" Little Johnny (confilentially)
Yes, and ] tell you she's = corker.'
Bridget Speaking up) 'Indade Dim
not, sorr. Oh cum from Limerick"
Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21

but the Thought struck him unccm-
fortably that his welcome home, il in
deed he got one at all, would seem poor
and cold after that he had just wit
messed.
This reflection was not so sweet as to
make his work go smoothly; his saw
seemed as blunt as q. double-bladed six
penny knife, land tho wood of the chair,
whose legs he was emitting down, as hard
as bog oak.
In fact he was feeling jealous Of the
squire and Disconnected with his own
wife and children. why were they not
eager to rush out and welcome him after
the fashion of the squirrels familya He
frcwned as he thought how badly he was
used, and his saw grated away as though
very dull.
But conscience had word to say to
him, and said it loud enough, too, for
him to hear, although he was making
noise enough to prevent any one from
trying to gain his attention.
It told him the fault was chiefly in
himself, for if his wife and children
were not like the squire's, neither was
his likeness to that worthy gentleman
particularly striking.
He couldn't blame his wife for not
making enough of his presents, for he
well knew he never gave her any; nor
did he greet her with those kind words
which would not have failed to draw
the same from her.
Wedge was good husband without
being kind one, spending his money
for the most part on his family in hard,
businesslike kind of a way, but showing
no affection toward his children, who
consequently did not love him.
As Wedge walked home, his tools on
back, he came across an old friend, car
,rying carefully dainty bunch Of snow
drops in his big, rough hand.
..Here, WILL" he said, walking along
by the carpenters side, i've just given
a trifle for these flowers pretty bits of
things, amt they--for my wife makes SO
much Of any little present I take her
home, she never minds what bring her,
50 long as give it her myself, for to be
sure always tack ON alittle something,
in the shape of few kinds words, which
.Ss
makes the thing seem valuable in her
eyes. don't know how should get on
sometimes, if it wern't for having flowers
pretty handy; you can get them for lit
tie or nothing at any time, and yet they
are more beautiful than anything we can
make. Perhaps that is what God gave
flowers form part at least-that the
poor man have within his reach the means
Of showing Kindness and giving presents,
which, without them, he might seldom
or never be able to give at all.
Wedges road now lay in different
direction from his friends, 50 they
parted company, Joe Sparks putting q
couple Of snow drops into Wills hand,
supposing he would know well enough
what to do with them.
Wedge turned the snowdrops over in
his hand and looked after Joe, who had
nearly turned the corner; what could the
man mean by giving him the snowdrops
and never saying worda He couldn't
have known what had just happened at
the hall; yet it seemed strange that he
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-28
No Sucker He.

Fergus Falls man came to town the
other day, says the Chicago Herald and
while taking in the sights was lured into
a Clark street poker game. He had
PLAYED a few hands, when it suddenly
dawned ON him that he was sitting in
WI at is known among sporting men as a
skin game. a game in which sucker
may consider himself lucky if he escapes
with his life. But the Fergus Falls man
was not much of "a sucker. He said
nothing until the man who sat at his
right began to deal the cards for a jack
pot. When the Fergus Falls man picked
up his hand he saw that he held a king
full He laid it down and said he would
pass. The man at his left opened the pot
for 80 The rest of the players, incfId-
ing the Fergus Falls man, remained in
the game.
The co,Intryman now saw chance to
bite the bitters- Calling for two cards,
he discarded the pair he held to the
kings, and waited for the man who
opened the pot to make his bet. This
unexpected move on the part of the Fer
gus Falls man threw the rest of the
players into panic, and each laid down
his hand without betting a cent. The
countryman thereupOn bet p, and this
not being called. he raked in the pot. BY
breaking his full hand (which was wholly
UNEXPECTEDLY he had spoiled the scheme
of the other players, which contemplated
an ace full for the house on the draw.
As it was, the Fergus Falls man caught
two of the aces. and. with his kings for
leaders, scooped in $40 of the pluggers
money
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-28
LINES OF THE HAND.
What Cheirasophieal Science says They
signify.
Heron-Allen, the Cheirosophist.


Heron-Allen, the Cheirosophist.
The most important line in the hand
is, of course. the line of life-that line
sweeping around the base of the thumb
from the wrist. Long, clear direct in
its course and colored, it denotes long
life, good health and good character
and disposition. Pale and and broad it
indicates ill-health. evil instincts and a
weak, envious disposition. Thick and
red. it betrays violence and brutality
The ages at which events have happened
may be- told by the points at which they
have marked the line. The shorter the
line the shorter the life; and this is
rather startling) from the point at which
the line terminates i'm both hands, NAV
be accurately predicted the time of
death.
A break in the line is always am illness
If in both hands. there is ALWAYS a grave
danger of death. especially if the lower
branch of the line turns in toward the
thumb. Rays across the hand from the
basis of the thumb always denote wor-
ries, and the age at which they occur is
always shown by the point at which the
rays terminate. The Line of head, :"
which is the next great line in the hand
it extends from bot the thumb
and forefinger across 10 the third finger
should be clear anu well closed. with
out fork, break or ramitication. Pale
and broad. it denotes feebleness or lack
of intellect; but If it is long and strong,
it denotes self-control. The third line is
the line of the heart-the line sweeping
from the foretinger across the hand. If
IL goes right across. it indicates excessive
affection, resulting in morbid jealousy
If it is chained. the subject is an inveter-
ate tlirt. Very, very thin and bare, it is
a sign of murder.
The fourth great line in the hand is
that of fortune. which rises through the
whole hand from the wrist to between
the second and third fingers. If it starts
from the line of life. il shows that ones
fortune results from ones own deserts
rising from the wrist, it is always a sign
Of good luck. Twisted or ragged at the
base. 1t indicates ill-luck in early life.
The line of health comes from the base
of the line of life. Clearly traced, it sell
dom exists iii hand; but when it is
found. 1t Is sign of good health. gayety
and success. There exists. of course. in
every hand lines which do not come I'M
der any of these rules; but the expert in
chelrosophy has no difficulty i'm reading
such by reference to their position with
regard to the principal lines.
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-28
GOING UP STAIRS.
An Acquired Faculty How the Japanese
are bothered.

Brooklyn Citizen
There are many funny things in New
York boarding houses, as most people
know or believe But / am told that
among the most amusing incidents are
those afforded by establishments where
Japanese students are domiciled- HUI
dreds of these young men are in New
York i'm attendance at the various acade-
mics and colleges, private and public.
They have been sent here to- get an
american" education, and most of
them have taken the higher branches of
mathematics and engineering. Few OF
them seem to care for the classical
course, or for any language but English.
The funny part of their life is learning
to- go up and down stairs.
1t seems that most parts of Japan. par
ticularly the rural regions, stairways are
unknown. The houses, too, are seldom
more than two stories high, and access
to- the upper floor is almost universally
had by means of a ladder, up which the
Japanese run like sailors. Hence, when
these young men come to New York and
are lodged in boarding houses their
apartments are generally in the third or
fourth story. To reach their rooms they
are compelled at first to go up very eau
tiously and with the aid of the balustrade
Some do not even hesitate to go up cat
fashion, ON all tours, from step to step.
The trouble is that they have not learned
to balance the body so as to ascend and
descend as we do. Our agility in going
up and down stairs is really an acrobatic
feat, but we are unconscious of it be
causex We have practiced it from child
hood.
Now, the young Japanese are deter
mined to perform this feat. and | am
told that they often spend hours in the
simple an accomplishment. You can
fancy what a ludicrous scene they make.
They soon learn to go up the stairs. It's
the coming down which gives them
trouble. The decensus is not facilis in
this case. The retrograde passus con-
stitutes the labor and the opus. When
the novice essays to come down stairs
his companions watch and guy him a.
he totters in the effort to keep AN upright
position. When, for any reason, he is
in a hurry he has to do the sailor act and
come down on all fours, stern foremost.
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-28
They Need Watching.


A very sensible and timely editorial in
the Savannah Morning Ne,rs closes with
this paragraph:
We have nothing TO say against char
liable works. but the mother who de-
votes the better part of her time to hunt
ing up objects for charity and leaves her
children to the care of an ignorant and
sometimes vicious nurse. doesn't know
what genuine objects of charity are.
The claim which her babies have upon
her charity Is greater than that of any
other charitable claim. and it ought tn
be satisfied first. Their comfort train
ing and happiness should be her first
consideration.
We dol't know to what extent Jack
sOnville mothers are given to following
up popular and fashionable charities. but
people who observe babies in the care of
nurses ON the street and in the park can
not fail to be impressed with the neglect
and even cruelty which they often suf-
fer at the hands of their attendants.
Good nurses are as scarce as saints in
these days, but manv housewives be-
stow more care upon the selection of
their cooks than upon the guardians of
their little ones. Perhaps it is unreason-
able to expect much for babies while the
stomach is the tyrant of our household
economy
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-28
Cowboy Gentleness.

The members of the New York State
Woman's Suffrage Association are at outs
with each other. At their meeting a
few days ago opposition was developed
to- the reelection of Mrs Lille Dever-
eux Blake as President. and torrent of
abusive adjectives was poured out. Mrs.
Blake and her friends triumphed. how
ever, and her opponents retired in dis
gust. One of the latter said. as she
bounced out of the hall: We'll, | have
been to the circus and seen the clowns.
but I've never had So much fun as this.
Once was ON a train with "A large num-
Der of cowboys. The train was wrecked.
and can assure you that these cowboys
in the accident We're more gentle, more
loving, more amiable than these wo-
men" The members of the association
seem to have forgotten that i'll union
there is strength
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-28
Sounding the Public Mind.

The policy of putting out ''feelers" for
public opinion Is one. which has been re-
peatedly adopted. Time and again names
have found their way into the newspa-
pers through mysterious channels as be-
ing under consideration by the President
for important appointments. The Pres
ident's clerks and secretaries. when di-
rectiy questioned IN regard to these ru-
mors, have repeatedly answered that, so
far as they knew. there was no truth
whatever in the rumors. and few days
later the correspondent who ON the
strength of these details. contradicted
the rumor. would be unpleasantly sur
prised 10y an official announcement of
the appointment he had discredited.
Hence public opinion Is settling down ON
the belief that the President declining a
denomination has been put out as a
''feeler" to test its effect on the Demo
cratic party and the public.